Tamerlane Amplifiers Circa 63 Head

I wanted to submit a review earlier but have waited for about 6 months to really get a feel for the amp.

For me this amp is a 10, I have deducted points for lack of an effects loop and multiple channels. I did not need nor want those options, they might have got in the way of the tone I was after.

Real good stuff:

1) Completely functional reverb, with mix, treble, bass and dwell tone controls.
2) "Bias Vary" tremolo system with speed and swell controls (achieves the desired effect by modulating the bias supply to the power tubes.
3) Push/Pull volume knob which will remove the tone stack from the signal,this boost the gain slightly.
4) A foot pedal for reverb, tremelo and bypassing the tone stack. It also has a gain control knob for adjusting the level when bypassing the tone controls, all with LED indication.

There are additional features worthy of mention: The amp has a bias trim pot and VOM access points on the rear panel, allowing quick re-biasing without removing the chassis; a multiple tap impedance output transformer for your choice of cabinet: 4, 8 or 16 ohms; nicely executed and finished in your choce of covering (mine is snakeskin)

I think this amp deserves a solid 10 on the sound department. The Circa's strength lies in its beautiful clean tone! Gar of tamerlane amps sent me a cd which really captures the sound of this amp. Absolutely killer sound.I play classic rock/blues, rockabilly and country/rock,I primarily play a 69 tele thinline but also use a 25/50 Les Paul, Ric 360 6 and 12 strings and a PRS single cut with soaps. I like to set the tone stack up for a clean tone with sparkle and add reverb an trem to taste. The trem is not that intense, but it does have a nice musical quality to it. Since it is bias vary, as you play the power tubes draw current, this hinders the trem effect, so you can practically play a staccato solo and you will not hear the effect. I really like how this works. The reverb bass control allows me to darken the effect and the treble adjustment adds presence. If I max the reverb I can get a good slapback effect going on. I get multiple channels by setting the level on the bypased tone stack to the same level as the clean settings, the tone is bluesy with more mids (think old fender). I currently us a Aphek peanut butter, analog man KOT and Pedal Doctor FX "four-Speed" for dirty rhythm and lead tones. The amp takes to the pedals real well and it gives me options with out any extra internal elctrical compnets on the inside of the amp. I play this amp through a 4/10 cab built by Gar, the cab is a match made in heaven for this baby. I don't think the amp has a bad sound in her and it gives me great versatility.

So far, so good. Gar is a true crafstsman who really pays attention to the details. It looks solid, and inspection of the inside of the amp reveals very good build quality and quality components. Only time will tell. I would think that it will outlast me.

This is where the real fun is, Gar worked with me every step of the way, he built this amp to suit my needs. Many times he would have to educate me in order to allow me to sift throuth all the options available. As much as I enjoy this amp I felt that working with Gar was truly a memorable experience and very educational as well. I will be buying products from him in the future for as long as he is in the bussiness.

I don't think you can find a boutique custom amp built to your specs anywhere for what Gar is charging. This amp is really about giving your fingers the abilty to connect with what is in your heart. It would be like losing a part of myself if it were stolen or destroyed, I would have to pick up another. I am currently working on getting a Hodgee for a portable tote and carry rig. That says a lot about the quality Gar is putting into his products!

My Circa is a custom made head. It is basically a knock off of the old Fender blackface Vibroverb. I got to choose the type of tubes used, the color of the tolex, piping,
the leather handle...it is a beautiful amp. It is not as versatile as some amps, but it can definitely handle rock, blues, jazz, and country. I personally use it for rock. I believe
that this amp would technically be a one channel amp. It does have an overdrive stage that is engaged by pulling out the volume knob, but is not footswitchable. It does
not have an effects loop which I regret. Although the overdrive is nice, it is not something that I think I will ever use. It does not really suit my style of rock.

The amp has plenty of power. I believe with my configuration it has about 40 watts. It is LOUD! It has plenty of clean headroom which is a must. The amp also has
tremelo which has dwell, bass, treble, and mix controls. It is a very subtle, but beautiful sounding reverb. My Circa also comes with tremelo. The trem sounds awesome,
not as choppy as I like, but it really captures the vintage tremelo sound. The only problem with the tremelo is that it pops when you disengage the footswitch. This is due
to the way it is grounded and the manufacturer is currently working on a solution. Did I mention that the reverb and the tremelo are footswitchable?

I cannot say enough about how great this amp sounds. It nails the old Fender blackface tone. I cannot find a bad sound in this amp. The clean channel is very warm with plenty of headroom. This amp is loud. The reverb and trem are great.

I have not had the amp long so I cannot truly speak to this. It is hand-wired though and Gar takes a lot of pride in building great amps so I cannot imagine it having many problems.

I have received amazing customer support. He helped me decide which model would best suit my style and taste. He sent me pictures and updates the entire time the amp was being built. He has always responded to my emails within a day or two...even now when I have a question he takes the time to answer it. If you want a custom amp this is your man.

I have been playing guitar for a good 12 years now. I have been in several professional bands and have owned many amps, pedals, and guitars. I have played Marshalls, Fenders, Mesa Boogies, Line 6, Tophats...this amp has a better tonal quality that any that I have played in the past. I really love the clean tone. It is everything that I have been looking for and more. The only thing that I don't like about the amp is that it thumps when you turn the tremelo off. It was explained to me that this was a common problem with early Fender tube amps and their tremelo circuit. The manufacturer is currently working on a solution to the problem. At that point I would say it was a 10.

In my quest for a new amp I checked out several of the "boutique" amps (Dr. Z, Tophat, THD). I chose Tamerlane because of the great customer service, the quality of craftsmanship, and the fact that you cannot get an amp with these features for this price. It was a tremendous bargain. It was exactly what I was looking for.